Texas politics is messy. It’s been messy for generations and I don’t suppose it’ll ever change. Dave and I got to go to the Texas Republican State Convention in San Antonio this month. 

Wow! Was I ever emotionally unprepared for the Texas politics we witnessed! I think I have PCSD, Post Convention Stress Disorder.

Because of my personal experience with abortion, I know something about stress disorders. So, I’m only barely kidding. 

You, Too, Can Experience the Passion of Texas Politics

Before the convention, I discovered many people would like to participate, but have no idea how easy it is to get into local Republican politics. Or even go to convention.

Here’s the basic process:

• Vote in the Republican Primary.
• Go to your precinct meeting after you vote. In our precinct, it was the Thursday after Election Tuesday. It’s always in the evening at the place where you voted. If you go, you will be heard simply cus folks don’t really even know about the meetings. In our precinct, we had 6-7 people show up, including David and me. 
• At your precinct meeting, you’ll get a chance to recommend “planks,” ideas you want the Republican Party to endorse for laws. You’ll get info about your county convention. And you can apply to be a delegate to the state convention. (More on that below under The Next Texas Convention.)
• Attend the Republican County Convention. I think it happens in the spring, every 2 years. 
• Leading up to the State Convention, there are lots of committee meetings on a full range of hot topics. People came from all over Texas to testify before these committees, who then decided what to keep or add or occasionally delete from the party platform recommendations.
• While at the state convention, we elected folks to represent us at the National Republican Convention in Wisconsin this summer. All those elected promised to support Trump. They all seem like down-to-earth people just like us.
• If you ever wondered how folks get to be electors, we chose them, too. Each region got to choose a few. All those chosen promised to cast our electoral votes for Trump. They’ll do that in Austin soon. Again, they seemed like hard-working, down-to-earth folks.

I learned a lot more, but these were the biggest things.

Yep, it’s that easy smeasy to get involved in local Republican politics. Still, I can’t make any promises about how easy it will be to stand up for your beliefs. Especially if you want to regroup and still be friends after heated discussions. 

Bullying and Dogmatic Tactics

I was shocked at how free people felt to bully each other at the convention. Painful! But, it refreshed my commitment to healthier conversations. The need is real! Lord, have mercy on us, please.

There were even some tactics I consider unethical. For instance, trashing other candidates with anonymous flyers. Ick! 

I tried to read all the literature folks prepared out of respect for their effort. But each time I read a flyer, I first checked it for the name of the author. Give me a break! If you believe in something, put your name on it. Texas politics is no place for cowards!

Sadly, many people also seemed to believe hollering sound bites in anger made their opinion persuasive. Ouch!

They are not alone in history, though. Name-calling and such foolishness has a long tradition in messy Texas politics.

Texas’s Early History of Political Ruckus

Of course, Texans love and claim war hero, Sam Houston, as our founding father. Like Davy Crockett, he was a gift from our neighbors in Tennessee. Houston was the only person elected to be governor of two different states, both Tennessee (1827) and Texas (1861). 

You probably know he had a, ahem, colorful history as a bit of a scalawag? 

Apparently, Houston’s hot-headed comments, including his penchant for name-calling, got him into trouble frequently. For instance, Houston was challenged to a number of duels. But, hey, at least he had the guts to claim his opinion!

He left Tennessee amid scandal, including a duel with Gen. William White. Houston was indicted in Kentucky in 1827 for the White incident but Tennessee leadership refused to arrest or extradite Houston. How Kentucky got involved I have no idea!

In 1832, as a mediator in Washington D.C. for the Cherokee, Houston got into a verbal scuffle with Rep. William Stanbery of Ohio. Later, on Pennsylvania Avenue, Houston saw Stanbery and called him a “rascal.” Then, Houston began to beat Stanbery with his cane. Stanbery drew a pistol in self-defense. His gun jammed, so he was unable to shoot Houston.

After Tennessee, Houston lived in Arkansas a few years, then he came to Texas. With his opinionated temperament, I guess he found the perfect home here. 😉

Texas Politics is Born

He served as top-ranking member of the Texian Army, leading them to battle at San Jacinto (1836) where they won independence from Mexico by defeating and capturing Santa Anna. Houston served as the Texas Republic’s president  twice (1836 & 1841), helping usher Texas into the United States in 1845. 

By the way, Houston was a member of the Democratic Party, founded in 1829 by Martin Van Buren of New York. The Republican Party was founded in 1854 by those opposed to slavery. Houston was staunchly anti-slavery, yet owned slaves. (BTW, Wikipedia is biased on that last fact.) He was deposed as Texas Governor in 1861 for failing to side with the Confederacy.

What Does Houston Teach Us?

• Duels are a really bad way to settle disputes.
• Texas politics is messy.
• Political parties experience mission drift.
• Popular values change.
• God uses imperfect people to accomplish His purpose.
• Liberty comes at a personal price.

Reasonable, Self-disciplined Approach

With the convention on the same weekend as Memorial Day, serving as a delegate felt like a privilege and a sacred trust in the honor of those who laid down their lives for us. Dave and I feel we owe it to my kids and grandkids to be involved somehow. 

Attending the Texas Republican Convention cost us something personally. Here’s how:

• We spend our own money on lodging and food. 
• We listened respectfully as some folks trashed the character of neighbors we love and respect. 
• Finally, most importantly, because of the work I’ve done over the years, my heart broke for those who were angry without realizing their woundedness is driving some of their vitriol. I wanted to comfort others with the comfort I’ve received. Believe me, I’ve been there. I could weep now as I think of it.

If you’re into a reasoned, self-disciplined approach to leadership, PLEASE apply to serve as a delegate next time. I hate to think what will happen if we don’t show up.

If you want to teach your kids a winning way to foster and love justice, check this podcast out.

Happy Observations

Whenever I write about an organization, I like to include any vision, purpose, or mission statements I can find. Here’s what I found on the local Smith County Republican website:

“The Republican philosophy is a true reflection of traditional Texas values. We are committed to advancing limited government, lower taxes, less spending and individual liberty. The Smith County Republican Party’s specific goals are to grow the Republican Party by reaching new voters, advance the Platform, which is grounded in conservative principle, and to keep Texas prosperous and free. Our core Republican values will sustain Texas into the future, keeping Texans strong, prosperous, and proud for generations to come.”

Here are some positive observations about the process:

• We made some new friends. We reconnected with old friends.
• Texas politics is messy, but it’s open to any and all who would serve.
• We put aside differences and got to know each other in a new way.
• Some young patriots showed up at the state convention. That put big smiles on our faces.
• We have some fantastic elected officials. And we got to talk to them in person. I guess the process works.
• Certainly, the theme of holding elected officials accountable dominated.

The Next Texas Republican Convention

The next Texas Republican Convention will be in 2 years. I heard it will be in Fort Worth or Dallas. But I couldn’t find anything online with details. Maybe someone could share a good source of info for me to pass along later. 

If you’re interested in seeing the application form to be a delegate for your precinct, just contact your local Republican office. I looked on the Texas Republican website and it wasn’t all that helpful. 

Here’s the website for Smith County; I bet they’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.

Healthier Conversations

I truly believe our nation is better when we have healthier conversations. If you believe the same, I want to hear your perspective, especially if it’s different than mine.

BTW, I know I have reading friends who are Democrats. I’m sorry I don’t know more about how the Democratic Party does things. If you’ll send me info, I’ll try to include it in a later post. 

No matter what you believe, please know you are welcome here. If God, in His patient mercy, can put up with me, I ought to be able to listen patiently to others. (Okay, so sometimes it’s hard for me to be patient, just pray for me, will ya?)

🙂

Cathy

May we pray together?

Dear good Father, You are the God who governs the affairs of men. We want to be like You, drawing men to You by our love for one another. Thank You for having mercy on us; Your patience and mercy are so beautiful to us. Thank You for paying the sacrificial price so we could have mercy.

Help us remember to love each other the way You love us. Teach us to be patient and self-disciplined as we speak Your love truthfully. Release us from self-indulgence and teach us to be careful with others. We are warriors. Our warfare is not with each other, but with powers of darkness and evil. Give us courage to be light, as Your Son is light. Help us to teach the next generations to cherish You and love Your justice. Help us worship You as we go through our days by loving others with compassion, not co-dependence or condemnation. We are Your grateful people. Bless us now because that is Your heart’s desire. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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More Favorite Quotes

“Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may.” ~Sam Houston

“Union can achieve everything when sustained by gallant hearts and correct principles, while anarchy and insubordination must fail in the achievement of every thing beneficial and glorious to mankind.” ~Sam Houston

“The benefits of education and of useful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free government.” ~Sam Houston

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” ~John 13:35 NKJV

❤️❤️❤️

Cathy Krafve, host of Fireside Talk Radio and author of The Well: The Art of Drawing Out Authentic Conversations and Marriage Conversation: From Coexisting to Cherished. We welcome your stories, ideas, and questions at CathyKrafve.com. 

❤️Truth with a Texas Twang! ❤️